Chapter 8: Practice Makes Perfect

The edict for the borderlands consumed Eden's attention all day. His advisors were in and out of his chambers. Petros kept close, a quill constantly in hand. Raegan stopped by with meals but wasn't permitted to stay long.

Violet watched over the debates and rewrites. The musical instruments hanging from every spare space in the walls kept her fascinated. She longed to see him play each one.

The day dragged on until the sun finally dipped into night. Petros headed out to deliver the edict to riders that would spread the message to the corners of Basharr. Lord Lennox and Lord Gregor left first. The rest of the lords drifted away, one by one. The glass palace coasted between waking and sleeping.

"The princess is waiting for you in the kitchens, my king. Will you join her?" Violet asked.

"We have the place to ourselves, Violet. Call me Eden." He leaned back, weariness drooping his shoulders. "I feel like I didn't see the sky all day."

"It was there," Violet replied, smirking. "Not a cloud to be seen."

He watched her, a flicker of electricity racing down his arm. "That's a shame."

"Some people like a clear, sunny day," she teased.

"Those people don't know what they're missing." A pet thundercloud swirled in Eden's palm. "No two storms are the same. No cloud will ever form the same way again. The sun is constant; storms are full of possibilities."

Violet came closer and gently poked the tiny storm. It wrapped around her finger, little bolts of lightning pricking her skin. Her magic drank up the nearness, wanting to expand it.

"What's it like to feel the magic of others?" Eden asked.

He pulled up a chair for her and she sat, still holding the storm as it set down twin tornadoes on the back of her hand.

"Like I've been sleeping and suddenly awake," she replied. "I'm caught in waves, forgetting about everything else, only able to see the heights our magic can go."

His eyes flickered golden in the waning light. "It sounds irresistible."

"It is."

"Then I don't think we should fight it," Eden declared.

The storm evaporated.

"What does that mean?"

"I've been thinking about this all day," Eden said. "You were right about utilizing the defenses my father left me, but you and I are the other defense our kingdom needs."

"You sound serious. You remember what happened at Catalina, right?"

"Of course, I'm serious. If we learned to work together and control our magic as partners, you would be a bodyguard to the entire kingdom and I would be the king my people need. One who can truly protect them."

Violet paused, processing. Never before had her magic been welcomed. She had expected Eden to want her to hide her abilities after Catalina—she probably would've agreed—but this opportunity opened up ideas she'd never allowed herself to entertain. She could have control.

She could have a life.

"You mean, you need me," Violet finally said, grinning at Eden.

His lips parted with surprise. "We need each other."

"No, you need me. Admit it."

"You'll do it, then?" he sighed.

"You have to say it."

He got up. "I'm not going to say it."

Violet followed him toward the door. "You're the king, I thought you could do anything?"

"I'm starting to regret this."

"I'm waiting," she laughed, right on his heels.

He whirled around, catching Violet off-guard. She lost her balance. He steadied her with a hand on her waist, pulling her close. Her palms were against his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken. Violet looked into his eyes, her gaze dropping to his lips.

She thought she saw him lean in. It was the slightest movement, she might have imagined it, but he spoke instead, "So," his voice was impossibly soft, sending a chill along her spine, "you'll do it?"

She gently pushed him away, but the moment lingered between them, an unasked question evading response. "Yes."

***

"We're nearly there," Eden said, eagerness lacing his tone.

They were climbing a trail that led deep into the forest draping Blackwood Mountain. Moonlight wove in and out of the boughs overhead. An owl screeched off to Violet's right.

"You're sure no one will be able to see?" Violet asked.

"This portion of the forest has always belonged to Tamarix House, used by the royal family without question. Only we know the trails."

"Has your family always practiced storm magic?" she asked, ducking beneath a falling branch.

"Most of us, yes," Eden replied.

Most? Violet wondered which of the Tamarix royals had deviated from tradition. She wanted to ask more but the trail opened into a clearing huddled against the mountain with towering trees encircling it.

"We'll have to keep the clouds low, but no one will see what we do here," Eden said, turning from the trees to Violet. "How do we start?"

"Well," Violet walked slowly toward him, "our magics connect through touch."

She held out her hand and he rested his in her palm. She pushed away the racing thoughts from earlier that night and took a deep breath. "Last time, you didn't know my magic would react with yours, so the storm turned chaotic. This time, try to let me in so we can create together."

He laced his fingers with hers. "I'll start."

A breeze picked up. It quickly grew to a wind, whipping Violet's black curls against her cheeks. Eden's magic bled into her veins, picking up speed as it raced to her heart. She sensed the difference this time, as if he'd raised the portcullis to his power. She walked freely in and reached for the wind.

A cloud formed over their heads. Energy surged between Violet and Eden, connecting them. With a shared thought, they pushed against the wind. The microburst pummeled the earth a few feet from them, blasting wind outward in all directions.

Eden grinned. "Make it cold."

The temperature dropped. Goosebumps danced over Violet's arms. The clouds spread and darkened, keeping low. Ice crystals formed at the edges. She whipped the storm, spiraling it around them. Eden pumped more power into it. The ice flew out like shards, digging into the trees.

"What about lightning?" he asked, taking her other hand.

The crackling hit her ears. Electricity climbed her legs and arms. The same light danced over Eden, but she couldn't tell if it started or ended in his eyes.

"Don't blink," she said, smiling.

With a deep breath she pushed their magic outward like a disc. Green light shot from where they stood, racing over the treetops. It lasted less than a second, but the power was undeniable.

"That could've cut down anything it touched," Eden marveled, still gazing at the sky.

Violet watched the heavens, too, energy surging through her. Her magic had never been like this. So free and easy. The threat of Curzon shrank into shadows. He could rally whatever powers he chose, Violet had her own strength to trust in now.